Physics (HRK)

Chapter 7: Work and Energy

WORK AND ENERGY

Work Done by the Constant Force

Consider a constant force F acts on a body and displaces it through a distance S in
its own direction. Then the work done is
defined as the product of magnitude of force
and displacement:
Work W F x F x
However if the force makes an angle
with the direction of motion of the body,

then work is defined as the product of component of force along the line of motion and
the magnitude of displacement. In this case, work is also defined as the product of
magnitude of force and the component of
displacement along the direction of force.
Thus

W F cos x
W F x cos

Or

W F x cos F .x
So, work is defined as the Scalar product of force and displacement.

If there are number of forces acting on the body, then work done is separately
calculated for each force. Then the net work will be the sum of work done by all separate
forces.
Case 1. If 0
If the displacement is produced in the direction of the force i.e., 0 , then work done
will be:
W F .x
W F x cos F x cos 0

As cos 0 1
W F x

Thus, when a horizontal force moves a body

horizontally or when a vertical force lifts a body
19
Written and composed by: Prof. Muhammad Ali Malik (M. Phil. Physics), Govt. Degree College, Naushera

Physics (HRK)

Chapter 7: Work and Energy

vertically, then the work done is the product of force and distance covered by the object.
Case 2. If 90
When the force has no componet in the direction of motion, then no work is done by the
force.

W F .x
W F x cos F x cos90

As cos90 0
W 0

Thus, if a person carrying a weight walks horizontally, then the

force exerted by the man is perpendicular to the horizontal
displacement. So, no work is done.
The examples of forces which dont work are:

Centripetal force

Tension in the string of vibrating pendulum

Weight and normal force don't work because they are

perpendicular to the displacement.

Case 3. If 180
When the force has a component opposite to the direction of displacement, then the work
done by the force

W F .x
W F x cos F x cos180

As cos180 1
W F x

The force of friction is opposite to the direction of motion, so the work done by the force
of friction on the object is zero.
Joule
The work done is a scalar quantity and its unit is Joule. Work is one joule when
force of one Newton acts on a body and displaces it through a distance of 1 meter in its
own direction.
Note: The force is invariant and is independent of the choice of frame of reference.
However, displacement is not invariant and depends upon the frame of reference, in
which the measurements of displacement are carried out.

20
Written and composed by: Prof. Muhammad Ali Malik (M. Phil. Physics), Govt. Degree College, Naushera

Physics (HRK)

Chapter 7: Work and Energy

Work Done by a Variable Force (In One Dimension)

Let the force is in x-direction and its magnitude changes with respect to position.
The variation of force with displacement x is
described in the figure. Figure a shows the force is the
function of displacement.
We have to calculate the work done from
initial position xi to final position x f .
For this we divide the displacement into N
small intervals each of length x .
Let F1 is the magnitude of force during the first
interval, then the work done by the force during the
first interval is approximately written as:
W1 F1x

This is the shaded area of first rectangle.

Similarly for other intervals:

W2 F2 x
W3 F3x
: : : : :
: : : : :

Wn Fn x
The total work done from position xi to position x f is:
W W1 W2 W3 ...... Wn
W F1x F2 x F3x ...... Fn x
N

W Fi x
i 1

In order to obtain better results, we divide the displacement into a very large
number of equal intervals such that N and x 0 . Hence
N

W lim Fi x lim Fi x
N

i 1

x 0

i 1

xf

F x
xi

Which is area under the curve.

21
Written and composed by: Prof. Muhammad Ali Malik (M. Phil. Physics), Govt. Degree College, Naushera

Physics (HRK)

Chapter 7: Work and Energy

Explanation (Work Done by Variable Force)

A good example of one dimensional force is in the case of mass-spring system as
shown in the figure. External force Fapp is
applied to the body towards right, then

Fapp kx
Where k is the spring constant and is the
measure of stiffness or softness of the spring. x
is the displacement in the of object from equilibrium position.
The restoring force FS exerted by the spring on the body is:

FS kx
This is known as the Hooks law.
Work done by the spring on
the body, when the body moves from
its initial position xi to x f will be:
xf

WS

F ( x).dx
S

xi
xf

1
WS (kx)dx kx 2
2
xi
WS

When

the

xf

xi

1 2 1
kxi kx f 2
2
2

spring

is

stretched

x x , work is negative.
i

When the spring is compressed

x x , work is positive.
i

If the particle is moved from

mean position x 0 i.e., xi 0 to

x f x , then the work done by the

spring on the body will be:
WS

1
1
2
k 0 kx 2
2
2

1
WS kx 2
2

Now the work done by the external force is:

x

Wext Fext ( x)dx kx dx

1 2
kx
2

22
Written and composed by: Prof. Muhammad Ali Malik (M. Phil. Physics), Govt. Degree College, Naushera

Physics (HRK)

Chapter 7: Work and Energy

Work Done by a Variable Force (Two Dimensional Case)

In case of a variable force, its magnitude and direction may change so that the
particle may move along curved path.
To find out the work done, we divide the path into a large number of small
displacements s . Each s is along tangent to the path and points in the direction of
motion. Work done during displacement s p is

Wp Fp . s p Fp cos p s p
The total work done between the points i and f is calculated by adding the
elements of work for each segment Wi :
f

p i

p i

W Fp . s p Fp cos p s p

If s becomes infinitesimally small such that s 0 , then s can be replaced by dx

and summation by integration:
f

W F .ds F cos ds ---------- (1)

As both F and vary point to point, so F will have non-zero horizontal as well as
vertical components. Thus

F Fxi Fy j and ds dxi dyj

f

W F .ds
i
f

W Fxi Fy j . dxi dyj

W Fx dx Fy dy ---------- (2)
i

Equation (1) and (2) are known as the line integral. In case of three dimensions:
f

W Fx dx Fy dy Fz dz
i

Work-Energy Theorem
Statement:
The net work done by the forces acting on the particle is equal to the change in
the kinetic energy of the particle.
Derivation
When a net force acts on the body, it changes its state of motion by producing
acceleration a in it. Let the net force Fnet changes the velocity of the body from xi to x f ,
then
23
Written and composed by: Prof. Muhammad Ali Malik (M. Phil. Physics), Govt. Degree College, Naushera

Physics (HRK)

Chapter 7: Work and Energy

Wnet Fnet ( x f xi )

Wnet ma.( x f xi )

----------

(1)

Fnet ma ( Newton Second Law)

Using 3rd equation of motion:

v f 2 vi 2 2a( x f xi )

v v
a
2 x x
2

Putting values in equation (1), we have:

v v .( x
m.
2 x x
2

Wnet

Wnet

v
m.

Wnet

v
m.

Wnet

2
f

vi 2
2

2
f

xi )

vi 2
2

1m

1m

vi 2

vi 2

1
1
mv f 2 mvi 2
2
2

Wnet K .E f K .Ei K .E

This is the mathematical form of work-energy theorem. This proof corresponds to the
constant force acting on the o object. However, this expression is not valid for the case of
non constant force.
General Proof of Work Energy Theorem
If a non-constant force acts on the object in one dimension, then the word done by
the force on the object can be find out by using expression:
Wnet Fnet dx ---------- (1)

Now Fnet m

dv
dv dx
dv
dv
m
m v mv , thus equation (1) becomes:
dt
dx dt
dx
dx

Wnet mv

dv
dx
dx

vf

Wnet mv dv
vi

Wnet

v2
m
2

Wnet

vf

vi

1
m(v f 2 vi 2 )
2

24
Written and composed by: Prof. Muhammad Ali Malik (M. Phil. Physics), Govt. Degree College, Naushera

Physics (HRK)
Wnet

Chapter 7: Work and Energy

1
1
mv f 2 mvi 2
2
2

Wnet K .E f K .Ei K .E
This is the expression of kinetic energy for the object under the action of nonconstant force.
Power
The rate of doing work is called power. If an agent does work W in time t ,
then the average power is defined as the ration to total work done to the total time. It is
described mathematically as:
Pav P

W
t

If the power is variable, then the instantaneous power is given by the expression:
W dW

t 0 t
dt

Pins lim

Watt
The SI unit of power is watt which can be defined as:
If an agent does work of one joule of work per second,
the power of that agent will be 1 watt
Question: Prove that P F .v
Proof: As P

dW
dt

Here the work done dW F .d s , therefore

P

F .d s
ds
F.
dt
dt

But

ds
v
dt

So P F .v

25
Written and composed by: Prof. Muhammad Ali Malik (M. Phil. Physics), Govt. Degree College, Naushera